The Texas House passed a tough anti-sanctuary bill containing provisions making it a crime for sheriffs and chiefs of police to refuse to cooperate with immigration officials. They could also be removed from office for providing “sanctuary” for the criminal illegal aliens in their jails.

DREAMERs and undocumented supporters were at the Texas Capitol to protest the anti-sanctuary legislation debated by the House of Representatives. Several “sanctuary city” sheriffs also showed their support.

Following Monday’s announcement by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that he is withholding federal law enforcement grants from sanctuary jurisdictions, a Texas sheriff quickly tried to claim this action would not apply to her county.

Texas’ capital county faces the loss of millions of dollars in state funding as a result of the Travis County sheriff’s sanctuary policies when a new bill that outlaws the same passes the legislature. Texas Governor Greg Abbott made abolishing sanctuary jurisdictions in Texas an emergency item for this year’s legislative session.

U.S. Representative John Culberson asked the Department of Justice to certify Travis County as a sanctuary jurisdiction and declare it ineligible for federal law enforcement grants. The move by the Texas congressmen follows a declaration by the Travis County sheriff that she will no longer, with certain limited exceptions, honor federal immigration detainers.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott moved quickly against the Travis County Sheriff who announced late last week that she would be changing her department’s policy on cooperating with federal immigration officials.